When Stars Are Scattered

Students are grumpier than usual because these are the “empty days.” A drawing helps explain the concept of empty days: over three rows, the repeated images of a pile of flour, a sack of meal, and a pot of oil gradually diminish until there is nothing left. Omar explains that food rations are available only every 15 days, and everyone inevitably runs out before they can replenish supplies. These days of want are the “empty days.” Fatuma cannot even make tea; she must use bad-tasting tree bark. Mothers must deal with cranky children too young to understand hunger, telling them, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry” (62). Finally, it is time for Omar and Hassan to take their ration card and collect the food. Omar thinks he sees someone who might be their mother, and he pulls Hassan along after her. He is mistaken, and the woman asks him, “Did you lose your mama?” (66). Omar feels embarrassed and sad. They wait through enormous lines for the oil, cornmeal, and salt, then return home. Fatuma tells Omar everything will be better when he is not so hungry, but he kicks a cup and bitterly asks why his mother left them. Fatuma can only tell Omar she is sorry, just like the mother of the children who cannot understand hunger.

At the end of the school term, Omar is 33rd in the class rank, and Jeri is 12th. Maryam is first among the girls, and Nimo is second. The boys play hide and seek in the dark that night to celebrate having a month off from school. Another game they play involves flipping a sandal to see which team must run for a base, but Hassan runs off with the sandal, causing Tall Ali to chase him down angrily and insult Omar about being an orphan. Omar fights Tall Ali, then leaves with Jeri and Hassan. Omar sees how unfairly those with any disability are treated in the camp, but Jeri, who has a limp, tells Omar not to underestimate Hassan and that “you have to appreciate the good parts and make the most out of what you’ve got” (80). Omar begins taking Hassan along for chores and having him complete some tasks, realizing Jeri is correct.

Omar and Hassan go to Nimo’s home, where her mother enjoys telling traditional Somalian stories and poems. Nimo and Maryam share with Omar that they are working hard in school to earn a scholarship to study in Canada. Maryam hopes that if she does well enough on end-of-year exams, her father will allow her to continue in school instead of marrying.

One day, relatives of Fatuma come to visit, and a woman mentions how the village of Mareerey in Somalia was destroyed and burned, and no one remains. Omar is very upset because that was his village. He and Hassan walk far from the camp as the sun sets. Omar is upset and angry that their mother has not come to find them. By the time they return to camp, though, Omar resolves to demonstrate more maturity: “But I’m not a child anymore. I know maybe everything won’t be okay. But we have to keep going anyway, and make the most with what we’ve got” (94).

School begins with an immediate focus on studying for exams. Omar learns that he must do well enough to go to middle school if he wants to continue his education. He studies all the time, sharing his notes from his workbook with Jeri and other boys (but not Tall Ali). Hassan is upset that Omar is so busy studying. One day he runs away from Fatuma and is beaten by other boys. Omar vows to stay with Hassan and leave school. Omar learns that Maryam must marry instead of taking the exams. He feels that many in the camps face unfairness. The day before exams, Maryam, who is usually very quiet, offers an earful to Omar, telling him he is wasting a good chance to continue in school, a chance she no longer has herself. She tells him that watching out for Hassan is an excuse and that plenty of helpers in the camp can take care of Hassan. She tells Omar he is selfish. Omar is awake all night, trying to decide what to do. Maryam comes again in the morning to watch Hassan, insisting Omar go take the tests. He sees that she is giving him a gift. He goes, despite his fear and his lack of studying recently. He goes because “when God gives you a gift, you use it” (111).